Two-wheeled vehicle



(No Model.)

2 SheetsSheet 1. O. W. SALADEE.

TWO WHEELED VEHIGLE.

No. 298,416.. Patented May 13, 1884.

WITNESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '2.

G. W. SALADEE. TWO WHEELBD VEHICLE.

No. 298.416. Patented Maw 13. 1884.

WY T JV ESSES v NVEENTOR N. PETERS. HwimLiXhcmyhv. Washington. D. C.

NETE CYRUS IV. SALADEE, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

TWO-WHEELED'VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 298,416, dated May 13, 1884.

Application filed August 93, 1881 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CYRUs W. SALADEE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Torrington, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in TwoW Vheeled Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to two-wheeled vehicles; and it consists, first, in the improved construction of the spring-platform supporting the body; second, in the means for connecting the shafts or pole to a cross-bar carried by the body, and for supporting the same in front of the body, in connection with a device to limit the vertical movements of the body in front; third, in the improved mode of forming and securing the step to the vehicle; and, fourth, in the peculiar construction and application of a pole to the vehicle, the several methods and means being hereinafter more fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a half plan view, with body removed, of a two-wheeledvehicle embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pole; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the step in accordance with my improved construction of the same.

To effectuate the intendmcnts of my invention, I employ a crank-shaped axle, E, whereby to admit the body to hang low down between the wheels without limiting its vertical motion by coming in contact with the axle, as would be the case if the latter were not made crank shape.

The letter C represents semi-elliptic side springs, formed substantially as shown in Fig. 1, having their center portions rigidly secured to the axle E, as seen in Fig. 2. The rear ends of these opposite side springs are united by a cross-spring, H, upon suitable shackles, in order to admit of the free action of the united ends of the side springs and the cross-spring. The front ends of the opposite side springs, C, are united by a cross-bar, G, upon shacklebearings 0. (See Fig. 2.) The body in front is carried by the cross-bar G gand at the rear by the cross-spring H. Thus, it will be seen, the axle E, side springs, C, cross-spring H,

and cross-bar G constitute a complete platform for the support of the body, and also that the crossbar G serves the double purpose of a support for the front end of the body, and that the extended ends carry the rear ends of the shafts or poles in substantially the same manner as shown in my Patent No. 282,37 8,, July 31, 1883. The shackles receiving the rear ends of the shafts or pole are secured to the outer ends of the crossbar G, as at 5, Fig. 2, and their crossbar L is supported in front of the body by forward-extending arms or spring D, the rear ends of which arms or springs are rigidly attached to the body or frame, and are connected to the cross-bar L of the shafts or pole in any suitable manner, preferably by a hanger-link, I as clearly shown in the. drawings, and which may be made adjustable and serve to regulate the set of the shafts and the hang of the body to carry it level.

Should the horse suddenly start and jerk the vehicle when the vehiole is loaded and being drawn up a hill, there will be a tendency to an upward motion of the front end of the body sufficient to throw the weight to the rear of the axle, and thereby give a strain to the arms D, which they are not designed to assume without danger of fracture. To overcome this I employ a suitable check, M, preferably a leather strap, extended from the body to the crossbar L on opposite sides, or a single check at the center. This check M, of whatever design, is so secured and adjusted as to admit of a limited vertical motion to the front end of the body, and yet arrest the movement at the proper point to prevent an undue upward strain upon the spring-arms D, thus securing the safety of the latter against fracture, as well as preventing any accident from that source to the occupants of the vehicle. The form of the step is seen in Fig. 4 as having the usual footpad I and shank I. The upper heavy portion of the latter is provided with two holes, 1 and 2, whereby it is secured or clipped to the cross-bar G, (see Fig. 2;) but without some mode of firmly bracing the pad I this single connection of the shank I to the bar G would prove insufficient to the strain imposed.

My improvements therefore consist in the extended shank forming the arm P, the outer end of which is bent inward and bolted to the arm D. The step has thus two rigid bearingsone at 4 on the bar G and the other at 7 on the arm D, or other parts of the platform to the rear of the bar Gthereby securely bracing the pad I.

Referring to Fig. 3, it has been found that none of the various constructions of poles used in four-wheeled vehicles is adapted to vehicles on two wheels, first, because their form is not suited to the purpose, and, second, because they are not provided with any means to prevent the vertical spring or vibration of the pole when the weight of the front end of the body is imposed upon it, as is the case in twowheeled vehicles, it being necessary in a twowheeled vehicle to have the rear end of the pole pass under the front end of the body, so as to give the front end of the latter a safe support. The front end of the pole can only be carried at the proper height from the ground by giving its main body N an upward curve, commencing at or about the cross-bar L, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

To supply a pole suited to a two-wheeled vehicle, and to provide against a vertical spring and a vibration of the pole under the weight .of the front end of the body and frame, I

brace the pole by any of the well-known means which will accomplish that purpose, preferably using a truss-brace, 1?, substantially as shown, and provide the rear end of the pole with the usual cross-bar, J, and loops T, which latter are pivotally connected with shackles 5, substantially as seen in Fig. 2. The doubletrce or bar L, carrying the single-tree L, is secured to the pole upon a bracket, It, or otherwise, whereby the point of draft may be elevated to the height desired in relation to the end of the pole. This cross-bar L is further stayed in relation to the pole and the rear crossbar, J, by braces K K; also, the crossbar J is further stayed in connection to the pole by braces K K. The arms D, extending from the body to the pole, have their-front ends carried in hangers I, suspended from the cross-bar L.

In its uses and connections with the vehicle the pole is substantially the same as the shaft, as the parts in the rear of each are used to effect the same purpose, and are substantially of the same construction.

WVhat I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the springplatform consisting of the axle E, longitudinally-arranged semi-elliptic side springs, C, the front ends of which are pivotally connected to a cross-bar, G, carried by the front end of the body, and their rear ends shackled to the cross-spring H, carried by the rear end of the body, in combination with shafts or pole pivotally connected to said cross-bar G, and supported in front of the body by arms or springs D, extending from the body and con necting with the cross-bar L of the shafts or pole, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the crossbar G and spring or arm D, the step having its shank fixed to the cross-bar G, and formed with a.

single arm extended rearward from the crossbar and fixed to the spring-arm D, substantially as described.

3. The pole N, curved upward from in front of the cross-bar L, in combination with a truss-brace, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination, the tongue having the brace-rod K, the sustaining-rods K, transverse bracket R, and the double-tree L, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GYRUS W. SALADEE. lVitnesses:

ISAAC W. BnooKs, OHAs. A. DODD. 

